ARCT in this process would like to thank the General Prisons Directorate for this inclusive process and ICITAP for coordinating the amendments and also providing the updates with all inputs:

During monitoring process, ARCT has always put a great emphasis in the different categories of persons with special needs: women, juvenile, mentally ill, chronic and terminal patients/inmates and older inmates over 65 years of age.

We are currently working on preparing specific Guidelines which will be launched within 2013, and reflect the basic international principles for the treatment of people deprived of their liberties.

As there are few amendments proposed to these special categories, the ARCT’ main focus will be on the “Rights of women offenders and prisoners”.

Historically, prisons and prison regimes have almost invariably been designed for the majority male prison population – from the architecture of prisons, to security procedures, to healthcare, family contact, work and training.

Today, special emphasis is paid to the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (‘the Bangkok Rules’), adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2010, and used to fill a long-standing lack of standards providing for the specific characteristics and needs of women offenders and prisoners. This set of Rules give guidance to policy makers, legislators, sentencing authorities and prison staff to reduce the imprisonment of women, and to meet the specific needs of women in case of imprisonment. The Rules are crucial to protecting the rights of women offenders and prisoners, explicitly addressing the different needs that women have and the different situations they come from. The Bangkok Rules are also the first international instrument to address the needs of children in prison with their parent.

ARCT considered that these current developments and amendments are calling for attention in adopting a special approach towards human treatment of women and female juvenile offenders in places of deprivation of liberties:

The Current Law on the rights and treatment of persons in detention does include few provisions with regards to the needs of women in detention, without properly addressing the legislative, administrative and institutional developments. It is the right moment that these categories of persons with special needs should be properly addressed and taken in consideration.Read more ...

On March 1st, 2014 the Parliamentary Commission will discuss the input of the interested parties to the Law on the Treatment of the persons in conflict with the law.

ARCT is invited to share the opinion and recommendations presented and discussed with the General Prisons Directorat and the Ministry of Justice.

During monitoring process, ARCT has always put a great emphasis in the different categories of persons with special needs: women, juvenile, mentally ill, chronic and terminal patients/inmates and older inmates over 65 years of age.

We are currently working on preparing specific Guidelines which will be launched within 2013, and reflect the basic international principles for the treatment of people deprived of their liberties.

As there are few amendments proposed to these special categories, the ARCT’ main focus will be on the “Rights of women offenders and prisoners”.

Historically, prisons and prison regimes have almost invariably been designed for the majority male prison population – from the architecture of prisons, to security procedures, to healthcare, family contact, work and training.

Today, special emphasis is paid to the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (‘the Bangkok Rules’), adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2010, and used to fill a long-standing lack of standards providing for the specific characteristics and needs of women offenders and prisoners. This set of Rules give guidance to policy makers, legislators, sentencing authorities and prison staff to reduce the imprisonment of women, and to meet the specific needs of women in case of imprisonment. The Rules are crucial to protecting the rights of women offenders and prisoners, explicitly addressing the different needs that women have and the different situations they come from. The Bangkok Rules are also the first international instrument to address the needs of children in prison with their parent.

During 2011 ARCT has persistently working to promote the important role that civil society actors should play in promoting human rights respect in the country.

ARCT Strategic Document 2012-17 has been under development, scrutiny and review of international experts. This document includes guiding principles and interventions, developments and keywords for the next 5 years.Read more ...